Illuminating device



Nov. 10, 1942. WOLF 2,301,768

ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed April 22, 1940 if f INVENTO flbrabam I)".

ATT RNEY Patented Nov.-10, 1942 ILLUMINATING DEVICE Abraham Wolf, Brooklyn, N. Y., assig'nor to Noma Electric Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 330,960

9 Claims. (Cl. 240-) My invention relates generally to illuminating devices. More particularly, my invention relates to an improved construction for illuminating devices of the ornamental or decorative type.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an illuminating device of the character described which shall be so constructed that, when illuminated, a halo effect will result about the source of illumination.

Another object of my invention is to provide an illuminating device of the character described which shall be characterized by its simplicity of construction, by the ease and facility of it assembly, and which shall at the same time represent a general improvement in the art.

A further object of my invention is to provide an illuminating device of the character described designed to produce a halo effect about the source of illumination in which the halo producing means shall at the same time serve as a refiector.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an illuminating device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 01 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the halo member disassembled from the lamp and socket shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the halo member shown in Fig. 5 but of a reduced size and disassembled therefrom; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, in section, illustrating a modified form 0! halo member for the Figs. 1 to 4 form of invention.

The iluminating device constructed in accordance with my invention may be applied to any suitable type of illuminating fixture but for convenience I have shown, in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, my invention as applied to an electrical candlestick type of illuminating fixture.

The device of my invention, as shown in the drawing, comprises a tubular member l0, which may be a part of a candle-simulating member or any other suitable fixture, having mounted therein at the upper end a standard type of electric bulb socket ii containing a screw shell i2 adapted to be attached to any suitable source of current supply by means of the lead wires l3. Into the screw shell l2 there is threadedly received a bulb B of any suitable type and shape and serving as a source of illumination. In accordance with my invention I have provided a halo producing member it which, in the form of invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, comprises a disc I4 whose thickness is shown as substantially less than the transverse width of the bulb B, but which may be made of any desired thickness. The disc i4 is provided with a notch extending inwardly from the periphery, the said notch comprising a portion Ma having an edge contour substantially conforming to the peripheral contour of the adjacently disposed portion of the bulb B and a portion Nb of a width substantially equal to the diameter of the tubular member Ill and adapted to extend downwardly for a predetermined distance below the top edge of said tubular member ID. The disc i4 is made of any suitable light-transmitting material such as glass, Celluloid, or any similar plastic composition and is provided adjacent the periphery thereof with a bevel I5 shown in the drawing as substantially 45, but which may be at any other desired angle.

It is thus seen from the above described construction that when the bulb B is illuminated, the light rays therefrom will be transmitted through the material of the disc I in all directions outwardly toward the periphery thereof where, due to the refraction of the light at the bevel IS, a more intensified illumination will appear adjacent the periphery of the disc [4. This will be particularly noticeable when viewed from the non-beveled side of the disc H, or, in other words, in the direction of the arrows A in Fig. 2

of the drawing. An effect will thus be obtained.

of an illuminated bulb of relatively high intensity followed by a space surrounding said bulb B extending from the said bulb to the bevel edge [5 of relatively low intensity and at the bevel edge I5 there will again appear an intensified illumination similar in intensity to that of the bulb B, which will give the effect of a halo surrounding the bulb B and spaced therefrom.

While in the drawing I have shown the disc member It as being provided with a one-sided bevel, it is understood that my invention may be satisfactorily practiced with a disc having a pair of opposing bevels 20a and 20b, as shown in Fig. 7, in which case a strong halo effect will be visible from both sides of the disc I 4.

Any suitable means may be provided for maintaining-the halo disc [4 in proper position. One such means is shown in the drawing and comprises a washer member having a central aperture 26 adapted to freely receive therethrough the base of the bulb B but of a size smaller than the portion of the bulb adjacent the base and having a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly extending flanges 21. The said flanges 2'! are provided with inwardly extending notches 28 adapted to snugly receive therein the a diacently disposed walls of the notch portion lb of the disc H. The flat side of the washer 25 is adapted to rest upon the top rim of the socket [2. It is noted that by constructing the holding washer 25, as above described, I am able to adjustably rotate the halo disc M on an axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the bulb, to thereby place the said halo disc in its most effective position. If desired, however, the aperture 26 of the washer 25 may be so constructed with respect to the bulb B that when the bulb is tightly screwed into the shell l2, the washer member 25 will be frictionally gripped to hold the halo disc M in any selected position. While in the drawing I have shown the washer member 25 as an independently constructed member, it is noted that the disc I4 and the washer 25 may be made as an integral unit.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the essential difierence between this modified form and the Figs. 1 to 4 form is to be found in the fact that the halo disc, instead of being disposed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bulb B, is disposed in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bulb B. In this form of my invention, as shown in Fig. 5, the bulb B is threadedly received in socket H in the same manner as hereinbefore described and the halo member 30, instead of being a disc similar to the disc M, is made cup-shaped and of irregular peripheral contour, of the type such as shown in Fig, 6 of the drawing. The peripheral edges of the member 30 are beveled at 3| in a manner similar to the bevel l5 and for the same purpose, so that when viewed from above, a halo effect will be produced concentric with the longitudinal axis of the bulb B.

If desired, the surface of the member 30 may be embossed with ridges as shown in Fig. 6 or perforated, if desired, to provide additional unique lighting effects due to the refraction of the light from the bulb B through the light transmitting material of the member 30. ,The said member 30 is provided with a central aperture designed to receive therethrough the base of the bulb B and is of such size as to be retained in position between the bulb and the socket, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An illuminating device of the character described comprising an exposed elongated electric bulb, a support therefor, a light transmitting member surrounding said bulb and adapted to transmit light therethrough. said member being provided with a bevel adjacent its periphery so that the light transmitted therethrough from said bulb will be a halo eflect surrounding said bulb, said member being disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bulb, the center of illumination of said bulb being disposed substantially centrally of said light transmitting member, and notched means for supporting said member in such position. v

2. An illuminating device of the character described comprising a bulb socket adapted to support an exposed elongated incandescent bulb therein, a disc member of light transmitting material having an open portion thereof disposed closely adjacent to and surrounding said bulb, said member being provided with a beveled portion adjacent its periphery so that the light transmitted therethrough from said source will be refracted at said bevel to cause a halo efiect surrounding said bulb, said member being disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bulb, and notched means for supporting said disc member, said last named supporting means being so constructed and ar ranged that said disc member may be rotated about an axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of said bulb.

3. An illuminating device of the character described comprising a bulb socket adapted to support an incandescent bulb therein, a disc member of light transmitting material having an open portion thereof disposed adjacent to and surrounding said bulb, said member beingprovided with a beveled portion adjacent its periphery so that the light transmitted therethrough from said source will be refracted at said bevel to cause a halo effect surrounding said bulb, and means for supporting said disc member, said last named means comprising a washer member interposed between said bulb and said socket, said washer member having a central aperture and a pair of opposed outwardly extending flanges, said flanges having notches receiving portions of said disc therein and said aperture receiving the base of said bulb therethrough.

4. An illuminating device of the character described comprising a bulb socket adapted to support an incandescent bulb therein, a disc member of light transmitting material having an open portion disposed adjacent to and surrounding said bulb, said member being provided with a beveled portion adjacent its periphery so that the light transmitted therethrough from said source will be refracted at said bevel to cause a halo effect surrounding said bulb, and means for supporting said disc member, said last named means comprising a washer interposed between said bulb and said socket, said washer having a central aperture and a pair of opposed outwardly extending flange members, said aperture receiving the base of said bulb therethrough, one of said members having notches in which portions of said other member are received.

5. For use with an electric light bulb supported in a socket, a member of light transmitting marefracted at said bevel to cause I terial having an open portion adapted to be disposed adjacent to and surrounding said bulb, said member being provided with a beveled por-' tion adjacent its periphery so that the light transmitted therethrough from said bulb will be retracted at said bevel to cause a halo efiect surrounding said bulb, and means for supporting said disc member, said last named means comprising a washer member adapted to be in-' terposed between said bulb and said socket, said washer member having a central aperture and a pair of opposed outwardly extending flanges, said flanges having notches receiving portions of said disc therein and said aperture receiving the base of said bulb therethrough.

6. For use with an electric light bulb supported in a socket, a member of light transmitting material having an open portion adapted to be disposed adjacent to and surrounding said bulb, said member being provided with a beveled portion adjacent its periphery so that the light transmitted therethrough from said bulb will be retracted at said bevel to cause a halo effect surrounding said bulb, and means for supporting said also member, said last named means comprising a washer adapted to be interposed between said bulb and said socket, said washer having a central aperture and a pair of opposed outwardly extending flange members, said aperture receiving the base of said bulb therethrough, one of said members having notches in which portions of said other member are received.

7. For use with an illuminating device of the character described wherein there is employed a socket and an electric light bulb of predetermined contour having a portion of maximum diameter from which the bulb tapers in opposite directions to portions of smaller diameter, said electric light bulb having a threaded base portion which is received in said socket, the combination of a flat ornamental member, said ornamental member having a cut out portion adapted to be disposed around and closely adiacent said bulb, and means for supporting said member on said bulb, said means comprising a disc bridging said cut away portion and adapted to be interposed between said bulb and said socket, said disc having an opening whereof the inner diameter is greater than the diameter of said bulb adjacent the threaded base portion thereof whereby to facilitate removal of said bulb from said socket and said member, said disk and said ornamental member being notched for interlocking engagement.

8. An illuminating device of the character described comprising a source of illumination, a support thereifor, a fiat, cle r, smooth, light transmitting member surro ding said source and adapted to transmit light therethrough, the center of said source of illumination being substantially coplanar with said light transmitting member, said member being provided on opposite faces thereof with a pair of oppositely disposed flat bevels around its outer periphery so that the light transmitted therethrough from said source will be refracted at said bevels to a direction normal to said light transmitting member, whereby to cause a halo efiect surrounding said source on both sides of said light transmitting member, and notched means for supporting said member.

9. For use with an illuminating device of the character described wherein there is employed a socket and an electric light bulb of predetermined contour having a portion of maximum diameter from which the bulb tapers in opposite directions to portions of smaller diameter, said electricv light bulb having a threaded base por tion which is received in said socket, the combination of an ornamental member, said ornamental member having a cut out portion adapted to be disposed around and closely adjacent said bulb, and means for supporting said member on said bulb, said means comprising a disc bridging said cut away portion and adapted to be interposed between said bulb and said socket, said disc having an opening whereof the inner diameter is greater than the diameter of said bulb adjacent the threaded base portion thereof whereby to facilitate removal of said bulb from said socket and'said member, said disk and said ornamental member being notched for interlocking engagement.

ABRAHAM WOLF. 

